FINALLY: Netflix ORIGINAL CONTENT! This is the start of something great.

They did it. It has officially started. Netflix is now offering original content to subscribers! It may not be my cup of tea, but the fact that it has been done means that Netflix has officially morphed from cyber video store to content provider.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this when I logged in:

Note, it says a Netflix Original Series. Since we know that Netflix is a no-advertising model, the money that paid for this series had to come from subscribers. I have not viewed the content, so it MIGHT have commercials in it, but I hope not. They have no commercials in their other stuff. If this series is indeed being paid by subscriber fees, might Netflix respond to demand of those subscribers in creating their new content? Methinks so. . If this is what it seems to be, this could be a game changer. Not just view on demand, but PRODUCE on demand too? It could happen. A voting system perhaps? Maybe some sort of Netflix polling system, or they could simply aggregate their viewing data and analyze the most viewed shows/movies for guidelines. The possibilities are endless. This is new territory, not unlike the cablescape before it became saturated.

They did it. It has officially started. Netflix is now offering original content to subscribers! It may not be my cup of tea, but the fact that it has been done means that Netflix has officially morphed from cyber video store to content provider.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this when I logged in:

Note, it says a Netflix Original Series. Since we know that Netflix is a no-advertising model, the money that paid for this series had to come from subscribers. I have not viewed the content, so it MIGHT have commercials in it, but I hope not. They have no commercials in their other stuff. If this series is indeed being paid by subscriber fees, might Netflix respond to demand of those subscribers in creating their new content? Methinks so. . If this is what it seems to be, this could be a game changer. Not just view on demand, but PRODUCE on demand too? It could happen. A voting system perhaps? Maybe some sort of Netflix polling system, or they could simply aggregate their viewing data and analyze the most viewed shows/movies for guidelines. The possibilities are endless. This is new territory, not unlike the cablescape before it became saturated.

Does this excite anyone as much as it does me?

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Bursts bubble

It's one show, and it HAS to produce on the level of HBO as far as advancing subscriptions go, otherwise it's gonna come back to bite them. Netflix may be "ahead of the curve" on disseminating content, but it HAS to produce quality otherwise it's gonna sink itself. I hope it can, because if it does it will show the viablitly of "internet-based networks" and allow for all the things we want.

It's one show, and it HAS to produce on the level of HBO as far as advancing subscriptions go, otherwise it's gonna come back to bite them. Netflix may be "ahead of the curve" on disseminating content, but it HAS to produce quality otherwise it's gonna sink itself. I hope it can, because if it does it will show the viablitly of "internet-based networks" and allow for all the things we want.

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I've actually heard that it's supposed to be a pretty good show, with decent production quality. And it probably doesn't hurt that the Norwegian broadcaster NRK is footing for half of the bill since that means that Netflix are getting bigger profit margins. Also, remember that Lilyhammer isn't the only original show produced by Netflix either. They're bringing back the cancelled sitcom Arrested Development (which has a quite significant fan base) for a ten episode season in 2013 as well, which will work as a lead in to a movie based on the show.

I've actually heard that it's supposed to be a pretty good show, with decent production quality. And it probably doesn't hurt that the Norwegian broadcaster NRK is footing for half of the bill since that means that Netflix are getting bigger profit margins. Also, remember that Lilyhammer isn't the only original show produced by Netflix either. They're bringing back the cancelled sitcom Arrested Development (which has a quite significant fan base) for a ten episode season in 2013 as well, which will work as a lead in to a movie based on the show.

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Don't forget ESA old son, I'm NOT ragging on the IDEA, I think the Idea is awesome, I WANT it to work, but after almost 2-3 years involving myself in the "nuts and bolts" of the system, I am highly skeptical of this working. No more, no less.

They are making a new season of Arrested Development; I think that will be the real test of what Netflix can pull off. Their current business model won't be sustainable in the long term if they want more than 2-3 shows but it'll be interesting to see how this concept develops.

It's one show, and it HAS to produce on the level of HBO as far as advancing subscriptions go, otherwise it's gonna come back to bite them. Netflix may be "ahead of the curve" on disseminating content, but it HAS to produce quality otherwise it's gonna sink itself. I hope it can, because if it does it will show the viablitly of "internet-based networks" and allow for all the things we want.

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I agree, but still the point of this thread is that Netflix is offering original content for the first time. It doesnt matter what it is to me at this point, it is the trajectory that interests and excites me. Sure, for them to do more, it will have to perform. But the fact that they are doing it AT ALL is very significant.

Dude, didn't we discuss this and other original content on Netflix in other threads?

I saw the entire series and I loved it! It takes a bit of getting used to at first with all the Norwegian dialogue but it was a humorous throwback to the Sopranos for me. I can't wait for season 2 of this show and I'm looking forward to more original content.

Netflix will be airing new, original episodes of Arrested Development and House of Cards with Kevin Spacey in 2013.

I never hated it. I was indifferent to it at the beginning but it grew on me in the second half of the season. I still maintain they should have let the dinos eat the kids and rid the show of the cutesieness.

I did not hate it either, but like Bluce said, the cutesy kids and the teen daughter and son killed the flow of it for me. The son of the leader was also not a winner for me, as the two-way wormhome was not either. Still, the effects were top notch. I would watch it on Netflix. I like the fact that netflix can see who is watching what, giving them a distinct edge in creating new programming. HBO used their viewing data to help guide their first original content as well. I guarantee, if Netflix had been properly tooled up for production (or whomever they use), the Firefly series would have been picked up by them. The sets were very easy, the locales and even the clothes were easy. The actors were not a-list, and the show could have continued. Or perhaps V.

I did not hate it either, but like Bluce said, the cutesy kids and the teen daughter and son killed the flow of it for me. The son of the leader was also not a winner for me, as the two-way wormhome was not either. Still, the effects were top notch. I would watch it on Netflix. I like the fact that netflix can see who is watching what, giving them a distinct edge in creating new programming. HBO used their viewing data to help guide their first original content as well. I guarantee, if Netflix had been properly tooled up for production (or whomever they use), the Firefly series would have been picked up by them. The sets were very easy, the locales and even the clothes were easy. The actors were not a-list, and the show could have continued. Or perhaps V.

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I can see them picking up great lost shows, as they're doing with Arrested Development, and developing great new shows. The nice thing about Netflix is that they know exactly what their viewers watch and they have a virtually and potentially endless revenue stream. Their original content, which they would own, will not be subject to localized licensing rights and will allow for global viewership without restriction. If they don't get stupid, they have the potential to become a serious threat to cable and premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.

I can see them picking up great lost shows, as they're doing with Arrested Development, and developing great new shows. The nice thing about Netflix is that they know exactly what their viewers watch and they have a virtually and potentially endless revenue stream. Their original content, which they would own, will not be subject to localized licensing rights and will allow for global viewership without restriction. If they don't get stupid, they have the potential to become a serious threat to cable and premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.

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The bolded is the real special part. Unlike cable channels who have to wait until Nielsen tells them how their shows did (at considerable cost, I might add), Netflix can take a REAL TIME snapshot at their viewing data, they can aggregate all sorts of neat queries based on time of day, months in the year, by genre and by individual production. It gives them metrics in real time that the studios will never get from Nielsen, AND, it is more than just a "sampling" of households. It is the actual total Netflix subscriber's base. Its like they can play poker and see through all the cards. They can sell investors using that data. They can increase their subscription base with new content. Im really excited by their new direction, despite the loss of more than 1000 more movies and Starz. IMO, Stars effed up because Starz premium just aint all that! None of the paid streaming services which have advertising appeal to me. I would much rather have commercial-free programming from a smaller library than be bombarded every 5 minutes with ads on a service with a million titles. But that is just me.

The bolded is the real special part. Unlike cable channels who have to wait until Nielsen tells them how their shows did (at considerable cost, I might add), Netflix can take a REAL TIME snapshot at their viewing data, they can aggregate all sorts of neat queries based on time of day, months in the year, by genre and by individual production. It gives them metrics in real time that the studios will never get from Nielsen, AND, it is more than just a "sampling" of households. It is the actual total Netflix subscriber's base. Its like they can play poker and see through all the cards. They can sell investors using that data. They can increase their subscription base with new content. Im really excited by their new direction, despite the loss of more than 1000 more movies and Starz. IMO, Stars effed up because Starz premium just aint all that! None of the paid streaming services which have advertising appeal to me. I would much rather have commercial-free programming from a smaller library than be bombarded every 5 minutes with ads on a service with a million titles. But that is just me.

I can see them picking up great lost shows, as they're doing with Arrested Development, and developing great new shows. The nice thing about Netflix is that they know exactly what their viewers watch and they have a virtually and potentially endless revenue stream. Their original content, which they would own, will not be subject to localized licensing rights and will allow for global viewership without restriction. If they don't get stupid, they have the potential to become a serious threat to cable and premium channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.

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BUMPING THIS THREAD.

Boy, did you call it or what? Im seeing this in the future as well. But the difference is that "somehow", Netflix is able to monetize their model without advertising. How is this possible? The others (the cable networks) could easily go online. But if they have commercials and cost more than $7.99, who will go for it? The Amazon Prime model is $79.00/yr, but there is too much that cost additional money to watch. It feels like a bait and switch to me. Hulu needs a commercial free model to compliment Hulu. Hulu Plus means nothing to me except PLUS extra cost, and PLUS commercials.

Boy, did you call it or what? Im seeing this in the future as well. But the difference is that "somehow", Netflix is able to monetize their model without advertising. How is this possible? The others (the cable networks) could easily go online. But if they have commercials and cost more than $7.99, who will go for it? The Amazon Prime model is $79.00/yr, but there is too much that cost additional money to watch. It feels like a bait and switch to me. Hulu needs a commercial free model to compliment Hulu. Hulu Plus means nothing to me except PLUS extra cost, and PLUS commercials.

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Bro, the Hulu Plus thing has gotten so stupid that most people are oblivious to the fact that Hulu Plus has MORE commercials than regular Hulu lately. Wtf are they charging for? The "right" to watch their bullshit on a non-PC device? So, they're not only raping you $7.99 for letting you watch content on your mobile device but they also punish you with even more commercials for having the gall to watch their shit on your mobile device.

Bro, the Hulu Plus thing has gotten so stupid that most people are oblivious to the fact that Hulu Plus has MORE commercials than regular Hulu lately. Wtf are they charging for? The "right" to watch their bullshit on a non-PC device? So, they're not only raping you $7.99 for letting you watch content on your mobile device but they also punish you with even more commercials for having the gall to watch their shit on your mobile device.

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Oh, I have seen it on other people's devices. It totally sucks with the commercials! Its like old broadcast television all over again, only in your pocket. I aint havin it. . Netflix is cool, but even cooler is streaming my own personal videos from my shared network library. My new LG tv has software which sees my network shares and I can access them via my remote control. Or, just switch to the computer and watch it in VLC or Media Center.

Netflix has the best model, but I fear they will have to change it to monetize it. It would be interesting to see how it does (beyond subscription fees).